It is currently a time of transition for the entire island of Maui. Many homes use cesspools to manage waste, far too many. Cesspools have proven dangerous as sources of groundwater contamination and the pollution of other natural water sources. As such, the government is in the process of helping all cesspool owners either connect to a sewer system or upgrade to a septic system. But how big of a task is this? How many homes on Maui have cesspools? Read more to find out.
Why do so Many Homes Have Cesspools in Maui, Hawaii?
Cesspools have been used in one way or another since ancient times. A few tweaks to the basic idea of waste collecting in a hole in the ground have helped improve the design, but the natural evolution is to switch to a septic system. As an island, Maui has a mix of rural and urban areas. Urban areas are served with a sewer system, but those who live away from the biggest cities usually have cesspools.
With a population of more than 160,00+ people and a constant influx of tourists, Maui has a waste management problem. Cesspools pollute, and around half of the inhabitants depend on one. That means thousands of homes still use this antiquated system.
Luckily for everyone, laws are in place that require cesspools be eliminated from the state by 2050. Large capacity cesspools have mostly been eliminated, and individual ones can be upgraded to septic systems without putting undue stress on homeowners thanks to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) from the EPA.
Since homes all over the island are transitioning from cesspool to septic system all the time, it’s hard to pin a number on how many cesspools are left. Over in Hawaii county, it is estimated that there are still at least 88,000 cesspools serving a population only about 40,000 people bigger than Maui. If Maui has a similar amount of cesspools in proportion, you could guess the island has more than 50,000 cesspools that need to be converted in less than 30 years.
Maui Pumping Offers New Septic Installation in Maui, Hawaii
To schedule a new septic installation and remove your cesspool, start by giving Maui Pumping a call. You can also schedule an appointment online through our online scheduling system if you would rather not call.
